Today on Athens News Matters, a preview of Georgia's legislative session with Dr. Audrey Haynes. Plus, a conversation with Mikhayla Robinson-Smith, Athens-Clarke County’s second-ever poet laureate.
UGA expert offers preview of Georgia’s legislative session
The Georgia General Assembly will convene on Monday for this year’s legislative session. Last year, debate raged below the Gold Dome over issues like sports betting and access to medical care for transgender youth.
WUGA’s Emma Auer sat down with Dr. Audrey Haynes, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Applied Politics Program at the University of Georgia, to preview the bills and issues that are likely to come up in this year’s session.
“Arts are a necessity in Athens:” local poet laureate on bringing poetry to the community
Athens is known for its music and arts scene, but poetry is an underappreciated form in the Classic City—at least officially. Mikhayla Robinson-Smith is Athens-Clarke County’s second-ever poet laureate. She took that seat last year and joined WUGA’s Emma Auer to discuss what language means to her in 2025.
A Letter from Jimmy Carter: local resident recalls cherished childhood memory
This week, we laid to rest the 39th President of the Unites States, Georgia's own Jimmy Carter. The passing of the Former President gave us all pause to reflect on a life extraordinarily lived, but for one local Athens resident, his death brought back a special childhood memory - and the lessons it taught him. WUGA's Lara Dua-Swartz has the story.
(To see photo's of Cameron Jay's letter, click here)
